What began as a way to honor the bravery of two, has now become a venue to honor the bravery of many.

A group of motorcyclists began a trek down U.S. 17 in 2009 as a way to remember two men — Steven Boehm, an Onslow County Sheriff’s Deputy, and Gene Thomas, a deputy chief of Verona — who died responding to a car wreck on U.S. 17 near Verona in 2008.

But this year, the run will pay tribute to fallen emergency responders all over OnslowCounty.

Piney Green Volunteer Fire Department Chief Roy Hall is one of the original organizers of the event now called the Hometown Heroes Run. Hall, who has been fighting fires for 51 years — 27 of which have been with Piney Green VFD —said it’s an honor to be a part.

“It gives (the families) a little closure,” he said. “It’s been years since some of them died, but this is healing for them.”

The run will start at 11 a.m. June 22 at New River Harley Davidson. Registration costs $10, and all proceeds go directly toward construction of the Onslow County Public Safety Memorial "Reflected in Our Eyes" at Burton Park. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and continues until the run begins Saturday.

Before the ride starts, all the names of the fallen emergency responders in OnslowCounty since the early 1900s are read aloud.

The run is being put on by the Onslow County Firefighters’ Association and the Red and Blue Knights Motorcycle Clubs, according to Lucinda Williams, the secretary for the firefighters’ association and one of the event organizers.

The Red Knights is a club consisting of firefighters and their family members, and the Blue Knights are law enforcement individuals and their family who ride motorcycles.

“This year we decided to take it a step up,” Williams said. “The Onslow County Firefighters’ Association has been trying to get the memorial built for several years now.”

The memorial has been in the works for years, Onslow County officials said, but its construction depends solely on private donations.

Onslow CountyDeputy County Manager David Cotton said the total cost of the memorial is estimated at $95,000, and currently $20,000 has been raised.

“So we have a long way to go,” he said.

Hall said the first year they put on the run, they split the proceeds in half and donated $750 to the Verona Fire Department in honor of Thomas and gave the remaining $750 to White Oak High School in honor of Boehm.

The last four runs’ yields have been dedicated to building the memorial.

The run is expected to take approximately 45 minutes to an hour for those on a bike or in a car. The route takes the participants by the place where the original honorees, Boehm and Thomas, died. The route will also take the participants by the beach.

Hall said people who show up for the run can expect camaraderie and those who don’t have bikes can catch a ride on the back of a motorcycle. Anyone can participate in the run, whether on a bike, in a car, or even on foot, Hall said.

Local fire departments will have trucks out there for the children to have a great time as well.

“Just show up and the registration fee is $10 and every dime is going toward the memorial,” Williams said.

Beyond the ride, people can also buy t-shirts from the association to help raise money for the memorial. The t-shirts sport an artist’s rendering of the memorial on the back with the association’s logo on the front, and they go for $12 and $15 depending on size. Wristbands will also be available for sale with proceeds going toward the memorial.

Williams said making sure the memorial goes up is a personal thing for her.

“It’s personal because our department has a name that’s going on that wall,” she said.

Beyond that, her cousin, Jimmy Davis Sr., who volunteered for the White Oak Volunteer Fire Department, died of a heart attack as he was walking out the door responding to a call about a fire.

“They deserve a little bit of recognition for what they gave,” Williams said. “They didn’t expect anything, but their families were left with these holes in their heart.”

When the memorial is constructed, it will honor all fallen emergency responders, including fire, EMS, law enforcement, and even private citizens who were rendering aid to someone in an emergency situation.

Joseph Williams Jr., a Camp Lejeune Marine and a volunteer firefighter has participated in the run twice.

“It’s a humbling experience, a good experience to remind everyone about their family,” he said.

Williams Jr. volunteers with Swansboro Rescue and White Oak VFD, and is a member of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club.

“It keeps our eyes open to the dangers of guys not coming home,” Williams Jr. said. “Nobody ever thinks about it, the sacrifice they make until they need the help.”

Williams Jr. said he hopes the memorial and the run will also inspire young people to find a passion for serving and becoming emergency responders themselves.

Riders will begin and end at New River Harley Davidson. A hot dog lunch donated by the Red Knights will be served following the run at Harley Davidson.